Faculty member: Panayotis Thanos

Project name: Exercise and the Brain: Awareness and Training impact on mood and cognitive performance

Project goals: Our projects aim to analyze brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), and other markers in blood samples of different doses of exercise in a rat model. The projects will utilize an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to collect the data. BDNF is crucial for neuron survival and synaptic plasticity. CCL5 is a pro-inflammatory chemokine that recruits leukocytes to an area of inflammation. We are interested in understanding how exercise doses can restore BDNF and CCL5 levels in rodent disease models. Our lab has a history of exercise neuroscience research and its therapeutic potential in treating neurological diseases.

Project tasks: Qualified students will be involved in assisting with background research, ELISA, analyzing the results, attending weekly zoom meetings, drafting reports and documents as well as oral presentation skills. Students may also be given the opportunity to be involved in conference presentations, manuscripts and potential publications involving exercise neuroscience research.

Duration of research experience: One year

Time commitment: Variable

Will this be in person or remote: Hybrid [online and in person (laboratory located at medical campus 1021 Main St.)]